USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1862-1879 > Part 19
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
by the way children are managed and trained than by loud protestations or lavish expenditure.
" Actions speak louder than words " in our management of our children as well as in other matters.
DISCIPLINE.
The discipline of our schools is generally quite satisfactory. The teachers have succeeded in managing their classes with very little corporal punishment, in several cases none at all ; and where it has been resorted to, it has been of such a character that none but the most finical could complain.
There are few in our community, doubtless, who object to any corporal punishment on principle. They seem to forget that good discipline is necessary to a successful school, and this can be maintained, in most cases, only by some punishment.
Where corporal punishment is abolished it is found ne- cessary to use expulsion from school as an alternative.
It seems to us wiser to use reasonable corporal punish- ment than to deprive pupils of the opportunity of continuing in school.
MUSIC.
At the commencement of the school year in September, . Mrs. Georgie N. Bordman was placed in charge of this de- partment.
In addition to the amount of instruction previously given, she teaches in the First Grammar and High Schools.
In the last report of this board it was stated as necessary that a plan of instruction in music, comprehending every grade of our schools, should be adopted.
In accordance with that desire of the committee the fol- lowing plan has been drawn up, and is pursued in all the schools as far as is practicable with their present knowledge of music.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Some of the upper grades are not qualified for work so advanced, and so are doing what is properly that of a lower grade.
It is confidently expected that each grade, as it advances, will be able to do all that is here specified.
PROGRAMME. Primary Schools.
All kinds of intervals, time, tone, rhythm, and melody to be read by note in the key of C.
Promptness in accent, pure tone and distinct articulation.
Written exercises, embodying all the necessary signs and rules.
Rote singing, to cultivate tasteful performance and expres- sion.
Intermediate Schools.
Review of work of the primary schools.
Exercises requiring alto parts.
Transposition of the scale.
Exercises in the keys of G and F.
Reading simple exercises at sight in key of C.
Third Grammar Schools.
Review of previous work.
Learn to read in the keys of D and B flat.
Judicious practice of simple music in three parts.
Reading simple exercises at sight in keys previously learned.
Second Grammar School.
Review. Singing in three parts.
The study of triads and their positions in the keys learned previously.
Writing from dictation.
Singing easy exercisos at sight,
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
First Grammar School.
Review all the previous work, with the addition of a bass clef. Singing exercises in four parts. Learn the keys of A and E flat. Singing at sight simple exercises.
Writing from dictation.
High School.
All the work before mentioned.
Keys of E and A flat. All the important rules of music.
Practice of three and four-part songs. The singing of ordinary simple music at sight.
Writing by dictation, from the piano or voice.
In order to carry out this programme successfully, the regular teachers and the special instructor must have the same object in view.
It is not intended that music should have more than its due portion of time, but it should have no less.
The energy and enthusiasm of the special instructor will produce but barren results without the cordial co-operation of every teacher.
This we believe Mrs. Bordman has now, and we trust that such will continue to be the case.
The pupils appear to take much interest, also, in this topic, and the committee are sanguine in their expectations for the future.
It is customary, in most towns, to have a musical exhibi- tion each spring, in order that the parents and others inter- ested may have an opportunity to judge of the ability of the schools to sing.
We hope to conform to this custom during the coming season, and trust the result will be gratifying.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
There seems to be a feeling among some pupils that music stands on a different footing from other branches ; that they are at liberty to take part in the singing exercises or not, as they please.
This feeling has manifested itself by a refusal to purchase books, and in a reluctance to join in the exercise. Some- times parents have sustained children in this course.
This seems to prevail to a greater degree with boy's than with girls. Girls generally love to sing, and they look for- ward to the time when it will be a delight to themselves and others to be able to sing well.
Parents generally seem to wish to have their daughters learn this art, but many are willing that their sons should remain ignorant of it.
It seems to the committee that the benefit to be derived from it cannot be restricted to the female sex alone. We fail to see why it is of less consequence for a man to be familiar with the principles and practice of music than a woman.
Music is an art which can be acquired much easier in youth than at a later period; and but few will deny that a knowledge of music is a very desirable thing for every one.
All that is needed to have our boys, especially in the High School, become interested in it, is a little more fa- miliarity with it. Undoubtedly they feel ignorant and em- barrassed in their first attempts, but in a short time, by attending to it faithfully, they will become proficient enough to find much enjoyment in it.
It will be impossible, however, to accomplish good results unless in addition to other aids, parents will lend their influ- ence and encourage us rather than obstruct and discourage, by sustaining the indifference of their children.
The committee consider music one of the branches of instruction, just as geometry and physiology are, and they condemn any lack of attention to it, or failure to procure
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the proper books, as strongly as they would the same defi- ciencies in any other study.
DRAWING.
An attempt was made early in the summer to have draw- ing taught. The chairman of the committee took general charge of the matter, and quite an interest on the part of teachers and pupils was created.
He was unable, however, to continue it, and so not much was done, although it was taught in most of the schools until the summer vacation.
Arrangements have now been made for a teacher who will give the teachers a course of instruction in this branch, after which they will be required to instruct in it.
PENMANSHIP.
This subject comes naturally in connection with draw- ing. Good penmanship is no longer an accomplishment but a necessity ; one of the first requisites in a business man.
A great improvement was made in this branch last year, but it has not yet arrived to that perfection where we can say, enough has been done.
Teachers find it necessary to use great care and be per- sistent in their dissatisfaction with careless and slovenly work.
We hope the time will soon come, if it has not already, when our business men can no longer say, as they have in the past, that we graduate from our schools no good pen- men.
In connection with this, "dictation exercises," involving the use of capitals, and proper marks of punctuation, are of great service.
Exercises in penmanship, prepared at home, and brought into the class once a week, and compared and criticised by the teacher, are excellent.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
These may consist of bills, notes, checks, orders, letters, and other exercises, giving pupils familiarity with business forms and expressions.
The earnest teacher will find no difficulty in finding sub- jects and methods enough to interest a class in this most useful art.
Such exercises can also be made useful in teaching spell- ing, which must be learned in childhood and youth, if at all.
If pupils become well versed in arithmetic, spelling and penmanship, before entering the High School, they are usually certain of doing well there.
In the lower schools, the pupil who excels in these branches will be more certain to succeed in the others; but without these there is no foundation to build upon.
EXAMINATIONS.
As was stated in the last report, a system of examinations was adopted last year upon which the promotions last June were decided.
We believe it is the unanimous opinion of the teachers that this plan operated very advantageously in inciting pupils to do well, and at the same time giving them the opportunity to know, at different times during the year, what the chance for promotion was.
Larger classes were promoted last year than in years previous, probably owing to the fact that several examina- tions gave a better opportunity for some pupils to show their proficiency than a single examination at the end of the year.
A part of these questions were prepared by the committee and a part by the teachers.
This year we are having fewer examinations, probably five during the year, but all are prepared by the committee.
In making the promotions this year, we believe that the daily record of recitations should also be considered in con- nection with these examinations.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Our anticipations of last year were realized in September, when we found the school much increased in size by the addition of a very large class from the Grammar School. There was not room enough for the accommodation of all the pupils.
The committee felt that this was the time to make the change which had been contemplated, and so the First Grammar School was moved into temporary quarters in the room assigned to this Board in the Town Hall, until the new building should be finished.
The room vacated by this school was taken for the fourth class of the High School.
Mr. Charles E. Prior was employed as an assistant, tem- porarily.
The committee finally made choice of Miss Emma Bug- bee, of the Nashua, N. H., High School, as an additional assistant. Miss Bugbee has had several years experience as a teacher, and comes with the highest recommendations, and we believe is succeeding well in the school.
Toward the end of November the master of the school was induced to resign, to accept a position in the English High School of Boston. His faithfulness and his earnest- ness in the work to which he has devoted his life, had created for him many friends in the short time he was in the school, who regretted exceedingly his departure, but the committee felt that it would be useless to attempt competi- tion with Boston, and his resignation was accepted.
A. G. Whitman, A. M., an experienced teacher, was se- lected to fill the position for the remainder of the year. He has succeeded in carrying the school along successfully, and without the friction which usually attends a change of teachers.
This school is very deficient in apparatus for teaching Chemistry and Natural Philosophy.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Some small additions have been made this year, but an expense of several hundred dollars will be necessary to have what the school really deserves.
It is of but little advantage to simply learn what the text-books teach of these subjects, especially chemistry.
The pupils should have an opportunity to use chemicals and perform the experiments themselves, thus fixing every principle and fact which they learn.
Mr. Whitman having offered to place his fine collection of minerals in the school for the benefit of such pupils as might pursue the study of mineralogy, we have had a case fitted up for them.
The pupils will have an excellent opportunity to learn something practically of minerals, and will perhaps be able to commence making some collections of their own, which will always be a source of pleasure to them.
It was voted by the committee last summer, when the medals were obtained for the graduating class, that hereafter diplomas should be given to the graduates instead of medals.
" What is the use of studying this or that?" is a question often addressed to the committee and teachers of the High School, by pupils who have not long been members of the school, or by their parents, who can see no " practical advan- tage," as they say, to be derived from it.
The High School course of study is essentially different from that of the Grammar School. It is not and is not in- tended to be a continuance of it. It opens a wider field of scholarship, and is intended to do something in the way of culture which the Grammar School cannot do.
To pursue this course of study a certain order must be followed, and we admit that, to one who is intending to re- main a member of the High School but a year or so, the study of certain topics embraced in the course for that first year will be of no great practical advantage ; but to those who continue they are indispensable.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
It is for those who go on and finish the course that it is arranged, and not for those who remain but a short time.
An effort has been made to satisfy all parties, by having two courses of study in the High School, - one English and the other Classical.
When the pupils enter the school they are allowed to take which course they wish.
Most of the complaint has come from pupils who have commenced the classical course, and finding Latin dry and hard, conclude that it isn't of " practical advantage," and wish to change to something else.
In two cases, last year, the committee permitted pupils to change from one course to the other, but it caused several others to wish to give up important studies which they had found distasteful, and did not produce the expected effect on the pupils favored.
We are inclined to think that parents do not consider carefully enough, when pupils enter the school, which of the two courses they desire them to take. That is the proper time to decide it ; not after they have pursued one or the other for some time.
Just as good a judgment can be formed then as ever. If it is desirable that a pupil should pursue a certain study, the question of whether he finds it difficult or easy is of no con- sequence.
Parents should also decide before they send their children to the High School, whether or not the course will be of practical advantage to them ; if not, they should not be sent there.
Really no one has a right to declare any study of no prac- tical advantage to a scholar, until the future of the child is revealed to him.
It is not seldom the case that our positions are what we least anticipated in our school days, and that those studies that seemed most practical and desirable were least so.
So the best that can be done is to be satisfied with such a
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
course of study as will fit young persons for good citizens and intelligent and cultivated men and women, considering that as the most practical end to be attained.
We are in hopes to publish, in the next report of this Board, a new course of study for all the schools, carefully arranged and systematized.
It is under consideration now, but has not reached a stage advanced enough for publication.
Attention is called to the following vote, passed unani- mously by the committee :
" When any pupil of the High School shall show continued neglect of study and consequent failure to perform what is justly required, it shall be the duty of the principal to transfer such pupil to the next lower class.
" Any member of the fourth class shall, under these circum- stances, be transferred to the First Grammar School."
The teachers have been troubled a great deal by the re- quests of pupils to go home a short time before the close of the session.
It seems to us the occasions when this privilege should be granted are very few, and we trust the number of such re- quests in future will be so few that there will be no neces- sity for action by the committee.
CATALOGUE OF THE MELROSE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE YEAR COMMENCING SEPTEMBER, 1874.
CLASS OF 1875.
BLAKE, SUSAN TORREY
CAREY, LIZZIE WEBB
DUTTON, HATTIE LOVEJOY, SARAH EMMA
WILDE, CARRIE LUNT
FIELDS, HENRY GARRETT
INGALLS, OLIN FISK
STANȚIAL, FRANK GEORGE
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CLASS OF 1876.
BLANTON, LIZZIE ANNA Goss, FLORENCE MARY
LANE, HATTIE ESTELLA
MONROE, LIZZIE JACOBS
TROWBRIDGE, AMELIA FRANK
MANSFIELD, FRANK
MORTON, EDWARD PAYSON JONES
PRIOR, ALFRED MELVILLE
ROBERTS, JOSEPH PAGE
GRUNDY, EDWARD LUTHIER
CLASS OF 1877.
BAILEY, CARRIE WINTHROP
LAVENDER, SARAH ESTELLA
BARRETT, NELLIE
LECRAW, LIZZIE GRIFFITH
BATCHELDER, HATTIE MARTIN
LOVEJOY, MINNIE
BROWN, MINNIE
LYALL, ADDIE LOUISE
CHAPIN, ANNIE MARIA
MESSENGER, ELLA
EMERSON, GEORGIA THERESA
McCOUBREY, LIZZIE ANNA
FOSTER, SARAH GERTRUDE
NORTON, ADA ELIZABETH PARKER, MARY
SARGEANT, LULIE
DAVIS, JOHN EDGAR
VINTON, MARY ISABEL
RIPLEY, MARIUS PARKER
WORTHEN, SUSIE
SARGEANT, WALTER CLIFFORD
BABB, EDWARD EVERETT
RUSSELL, WM. CLIFTON
CLASS OF 1878.
AUSTIN, CORA FRANCENA
POOLE, HANNAH IRENE
BAILEY, FLORA LILLIE
SELEE, LUCY CORA
BENNETT, MATTIE ANN
STRATTON, NELLIE MARIA
BOARDMAN, NELLIE CARVER
TROWBRIDGE, CORA BELL
BRADLEY, DORA DAVIS BRYANT, LIZZIE BELL
BODGE, GEORGE EMERSON
BURR, FANNIE WOODBURY
BRADBURY, WM. BENJAMIN
BURNHAM, CHARLES HENRY
COOLIDGE, ISABEL POMEROY DAMON, NELLIE BELL DRAKE, LOUISE ISABEL
CAREY, EDWIN CLASE CHANDLER, HENRY GORDEN COLEGAN, HUGH THOMAS
GRUNDY, EMMA JANE
HASKELL, CORA LOUISE
DOLE. WM. ANDREWS
ELLIS, WILLIE BERTON
FULLER, CHARLES GILBERT
MOLYNEUX, MARIA LOUISE
GRAVES, ABBOT FRANK HARE, ANDREW SAMUEL MANSFIELD, GEORGE WHITE
MOLYNEUX, ANNIE ELIZABETHI NEWHALL, CHARLES LITTLEFIELD, HOMER SWEET
LEWIS, WALTER CHANNING
SARGENT, JOHN ALBERT
SPRAGUE, CHARLES
SMITH, RUFUS WINSLOW JONES, EDWIN FRANCIS
ROWELL, CLARENCE A.
SOUTHER, FRANK MAY
HALLETT, IDA LOUISE JONES, ANNA MAY LOVEJOY, JENNIE GILBERT
UPHAM MARY
GIBBONS, LOUISA JANE
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
These schools remain under the same teachers as last year with one exception. Mr. Smith, who has filled so satis- factorily the position of Principal of our First Grammar School for two years, resigned about the first of January, to take charge of the Bowditch School, Salem.
Mr. Smith was a growing teacher, and we should have been glad to have retained him longer, but we were con- trolled by the same reasons in regard to him as in the case of Mr. Harrington.
Mr. H. F. Woodman, late of Salem, was elected as his successor, and from what we have learned of his success in other localities we feel confident that he will succeed with us.
Hereafter, all pupils who complete the Grammar School course in a satisfactory manner, will be presented with diplomas at graduation. None will receive diplomas whom the committee consider unqualified to enter the High School, and any possessing them will be admitted to it with- out further examination.
The First Grammar School has been transferred to the new building, and the master has charge of the entire build- ing, being responsible for the discipline and management of all affairs there.
The Second Grammar School had so many pupils at the beginning of the year that the work was too hard for the teacher in charge, and ten of those best qualified were sent to the First Grammar School.
The plan was that they should join in such recitations of that class as they could, and be instructed in other topics separately, until they should be able to join in all the work of the class. Most of them are now doing the regular work, and probably some of them, if not all, will be able to graduate next Summer.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The two classes, comprising the third section of our Grammar School, are quite large, and undoubtedly there will be so many to enter the second class next year that it will be necessary to make two classes of that, thus form- ing a new school, and rendering the employment of another teacher necessary.
As our town is increasing in population the formation of a new class every year or two is necessary.
The committee are in hopes to arrange it so as to use the room at Green Street, but it should be newly furnished, and these matters must be provided for in the appropriation this spring.
Our Grammar Schools are generally in a good condition. The teachers are experienced, and have been in that grade of work long enough to be familiar with it, and so utilize their time and adapt their methods better than they could at first.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
These schools have remained under the same teachers as last year, and have been doing their work successfully.
The change made last year by consolidating the three classes in each, to two, has been found as desirable as was anticipated.
As has previously been stated the Centre School has suf- fered from the loss of its building.
Several pupils have lately been transferred to this school from the Centre Primary, on account of the great num- ber of pupils in the Primary and the small number in this school.
Such of these as shall be found competent will be promoted in June, and the remainder will be just where they would have been had they remained in the Primary.
It is not the intention to urge them at all, beyond what they would have been required to do in the other schools.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
These schools correspond in grade to the lower grammar classes in many towns, so that pupils entering these from other towns often suppose they are entering a lower grade, when that is not the case.
PRIMARY AND MIXED SCHOOLS.
One-half of these schools have changed teachers since the last report was made.
Miss Treadwell retired from the Vinton Street Primary at the beginning of the summer term, after a long and successful term of service, and Miss Etta W. Livermore was selected by the committee for the school.
Miss Livermore had previously acted for some time as substitute in the school, and her success in this position influenced the committee in their choice.
She has displayed great zeal and enthusiasm in her work, and has succeeded in winning the love of the pupils, so that discipline has been an easy matter.
We believe as she gains experience she will become one of our best teachers.
We regret to record the death of Miss Annie Woodman, a graduate of our High School, and recently the teacher of the Highland School. Although young, she gave promise of becoming an excellent teacher, and until failing health unfitted her for her work, it was done in a manner which showed a genuine love for it, and a devotion to it which must have brought success. .
Miss Alice S. Brown was selected for the Highland School.
The school was not in a good condition when Miss Brown took charge of it, as Miss Woodman's illness had interfered with its progress. This must always be the case where for any reason a school has two or three different teachers during a year.
When the committee have visited it during the present
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
year, it has appeared well, and we trust that we shall not be obliged to chronicle any more changes there for a long time to come.
In the Green Street School, Miss Lydia Mendum was chosen to succeed Miss Buffum, who resigned in November.
We believe Miss Buffum commenced teaching in this school, and never taught elsewhere. The universal regret expressed by the citizens of that section of the town, at her departure, is a worthy tribute to her work there.
Miss Mendum was engaged there temporarily, until some experienced teacher could be selected, but after conducting the school some weeks, the committee were satisfied that many an experienced teacher might do worse, and few better, and made her appointment permanent.
In regard to the lower classes in our Primary and Mixed Schools, the committee last year had a very strong convic- tion that many of the pupils would be better employed at home than at school.
But little of their time was employed in the studies - if we may so call them - of the school, and the remainder in sitting as still as they could; much stiller than they wished, doing nothing. We believe that nothing is so absolutely deadeniny to a child in all respects as this. Activity in every respect is the normal condition in childhood. The mind and body grow by what they feed on, but not by lack of food, not by total abstinence.
To remedy this difficulty blocks have been introduced, and the pupils have been encouraged to bring slates, or have paper to draw on. In some schools they have been allowed to amuse themselves at the black-board.
Bound copies of the Nursery have been placed on the teachers' tables, from which they read stories to entertain the pupils.
We are so much pleased with the following account of this matter in the School Report of the town of Lexington for this year, that we have embraced it in our report.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In regard to Primary Schools, it says, -
" Much of the training here should be objective, and we have placed in these schools and in the Mixed Schools, where there are children of the Primary grade, at very slight expense to the town, but at considerable expense of time and care to ourselves, a great variety of material for occupation, instruction, and enter- tainment, embracing thousands of triangles, oblongs, squares, and other geometrical forms of various colors, cards, letters, sticks, blocks, worsteds, pictures, books, etc. These, at different times during the day, are placed in the hands of those children who are too young to study, and who have ordinarily sat with nothing to do, so that many an hour, otherwise tedious and injurious, is passed pleasantly and not without profit.
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